Our
Vision
As
stewards of the environment, North Carolinians
preserve and protect the state’s vast resources.
The quality of the air, water, and land will be
maintained and enhanced. The collection and dissemination
of environmental data will reflect advanced technology
and communication tools.

In
some respects, North Carolina has made significant progress
in protecting its air and water over the past 20 years. Four
of the six primary air pollutants have declined since the
1970s. Sewage treatment
plants are dumping less noxious waste into rivers. All is far
from well, however. Ground-level ozone has been on the increase.
Non-point source pollution -- such as runoff from roads and
agricultural lands -- threatens the quality
of streams, rivers, and estuaries.

Preserve
precious & productive natural resources

Land
preservation
Coastal fish protection
Energy conservation

The
renewable natural resources that have provided sustenance
and income to generations of North Carolinians -- our
land, coastal assets and energy -- can never be taken
for granted. Significant steps will be necessary to allow
these resource to regenerate and then to protect their
diversity and productivity.

Employ
vigorius & cost effective environmental strategies

Development
efficiency
Sewer safety
Solid waste
Hazardous wastes

While
the state's growing population aids economic vitality,
it also poses serious challenges. Urban
sprawl gobbles farm and forest land, generates unhealthy
air, and increases gasoline consumption. At the same time
we must continue to invest in environmental management
strategiesto minimize the impact of various wastes.